𝖲𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌|~𝒟.𝑀

7

Dumbledore handed me a letter with an official-looking seal. "This contains all the information you'll need," he said. "Term begins on September 1st. Hagrid will assist you in gathering your supplies."

Hagrid nodded enthusiastically. "We"ll take a trip to Diagon Alley, get ye all sorted" he said

I looked at the letter that layed in my shaking hands. It felt heavy with the weight of a new reality. "Thanks,"I stammered out.

As Dumbledore and Hagrid made their way to the front door, my mother finally spoke. Finally able to find her voice. "Please, take care of her, she doesn't know.." she said, her voice thick with emotion

Dumbledore turned, his expression gentle. "She will be in good hands, Mrs. Clark. Hogwarts is a safe place, and she will be among friends. She is a powerful thing we need. She will be okay."

With that, they left, leaving me and Aspen, my parents as well standing silently in the lounge. The silence was heavy, but there was also a sense of something new..i don't know whether to be scared or excited with this new given information.

Mother broke into a fit of sobs as she clutched the counter, turning away from everyone. I didn't move. I couldn't. My feet didn't want to move, I had too many emotions rambling through my mind. "Your true potential will awaken at Hogwarts. Embrace the darkness within you.." the voice hissed through my ears causing a piercing pain in my head.

Shaking the pain away I looked at my father who was looking at me, "What did you say?" clutching the side of my head as I pressed my eyes back open. "I didn't say anything Kasseya." Father spat angrily, he strived toward me roughly grabbing my face with his hand.

His sudden grip made a slight yelp come from my lips, Forcing me to look at him. "You are a waste of a child" he growled as he dug his fingers deep into my jaw before letting it go. Tears filled my eyes as I was standing in shock. He marched upstairs to his room slamming it shut.

The slam echoed through the house. A tear slid down my cheek, I had so many emotions bubbling inside of me I couldn't choose which one to pick. Mothers sobs grew louder as she came closer to me. She hugged me tightly. "I'm so sorry, you are going to do great" she whispered "you kasseya clark are an amazing child" she sobbed into my hair as she squeezed my tightly. She tucked her head in the crook of my neck sobbing into it. My arms laid down by my side as she hugged me, I wasn't able to move. I just couldn't.

"Please hug me" she cried as she pulled at my lifeless arms dangling by my side. Slowly picking one arm up I placed it lightly around her. My face straight forward I wanted to melt into her touch and cry with her, but I couldn't.

Mum broke the hug as she walked to the back door, heading straight out it. "Kas.." Aspen's small voice spoke, I didn't respond. I begged my feet to move trying with everything in me, they finally moved. Slowly I made my way to the stairs, I climbed them walking to my room. I heard faint footsteps following closely behind me.

As I went back to my room, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. A whole new world is waiting for me, a new start, no evil father and lazy mother. Just me. I was ready to embrace it. But the only thing missing was Aspen. How could I just leave Aspen behind after everything that's happened? The thought of leaving him by himself broke my heart. Tears welled in my eyes as they began to pour out.

Sobs leaving my lips, my knees fell to the floor. My chest rising and falling fast with each sob that escaped my lips. I couldn't leave him, I just couldn't. Who knew what father would do? If I'm not here to protect him, Who will? It was all to much going on. My emotions were everywhere.

I felt torn between the promise of a new beginning and the responsibility I felt towards Aspen. The weight of the decision pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. How could I choose between my own freedom and the safety of my brother?

Feeling a small set of hands wrap around me tightly broke my thoughts. Wrapping my arms around him as I sobbed uncontrollably. What was I to do? "Kasseya, it's okay" he spoke softly as he hugged me. "It's okay, you're okay," he assured me.

"No aspen, no it's not. I can't leave you here alone" my speech broke as i cried out. Tears cascaded down my cheeks, carving glistening paths on my skin as they fell.

Aspen tightened his embrace, his small frame somehow providing a sense of stability amidst the chaos. "Kasseya, listen to me" he said, his voice steady despite the situation. "You have always been the strong one, the one who protected me. But now it is time for you to think about yourself kas. You can't keep worrying about me. You have huge things ahead of you."

I shook my head, my tears falling onto his shoulder. "But you are my little brother. I promised I would keep you safe and I would take care of you. How can I just leave you here with him?"

Aspen pulled back slightly, looking up at me with those earnest eyes. "Kas, you did keep me safe. I am going to be okay. You taught me how to care for myself. I know how to make eggs now" he stifled out a laugh. His joke made me crack a small smile, " Now, you need to trust me like I have always trusted you."

His words struck a chord within me. Aspen had learned so much, and I realized he was right. He had become somewhat more resilient than I had given him credit. But the fear of leaving him behind still gnawed at me.

"What if something happens to you?" I whispered, my voice barely holding together.

"I will be careful, I promise," he said. Wiping away my tears with his thumbs "And i will stay in touch with you. If things get bad, I will find a way to reach you. But you have to go, Kasseya. This is your chance to be free, to have a better wizard life beyond this."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Aspen's resolve gave me a glimmer of hope, Maybe this was the right thing to do, for both of us. I hugged him tightly once more, feeling the weight of the decision settle in my heart.

"You have always been such a strong sister" Aspen continued, his eyes shining with pride and a touch of sadness. "Hogwarts is where you belong. You have a great path ahead of you, and you can't let anything hold you back. I will be okay, I am going to be here, safe. I will hang out with friends!" he smiled "and i can tell them how i have a cool, strong witchy sister!" he giggled "and i promise i will write to you all the time" he smiled at me as he extended his pinky out to me.

I felt a lump in my throat, but I managed a small smile. Wrapping my pinky with his as I now pinky promised to him, "You're right. I will miss you everyday, but I promise I will still protect you."

Aspen gave me a brave smile. "And I will always protect you, my cool witch sister" he giggled.

With that, I hugged him tightly. Squeezing everything I had as I hugged him. I knew I had to go to this school. If Aspen said he would be fine then I believe him. I would never let anyone hurt him ever.

As we pulled away, I glanced around my bedroom, taking in the familiar surroundings one last time. "Let's get some sleep," I said softly. "We have a lot tomorrow."

Aspen nodded and climbed into his own bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. "Goodnight, Kasseya, you are going to be the best witch," he muttered.

"Goodnight Aspen," I replied, turning off the light and settling into my bed. As I lay there in the darkness, I felt a mixture of worry and somewhat excitement with what's ahead for me. But I know that if aspens okay, everything will be okay.